Hi, I'm Violet Manors and this is Hidden Heritage. This is a series of conversations about life,

identity and the pull of heritage, not simply the houses themselves, but the people that

have shaped inside of them, the community sustained by them and the evolving role they play in

modern Britain. I've spent much of my life around independently owned historic houses,

first growing up in one and now working closely with many others through our work at Heritage Explore. What strikes me increasingly

is that Heritage is still discussed emotionally, far more than strategically. In 2026, Heritage

sits at the intersection of identity, global capital, private custodianship and public expectation.

So today I want to explore what heritage actually represents now. An economic driver, a social anchor, a private responsibility,

a global status asset, or something still deeply embedded into British cultural life,

perhaps all of the above. I'm joined by Jason Lindy,

president of historic houses and custodian of Heddingham Castle in Essex, and Marcus York-Long,

head of private offices at Charles Russell, Speechleys. Between them, they both see the pressures

and possibilities shaping our British heritage today. Jason, Marcus, thank you both so much for joining me on Hidden Heritage.

Jason, I'd like to start with you.

How do you describe what you do today in your own words,

both as the president of the HHS and also, obviously, as a custodian of heading on household?

That's an interesting question by that.

It's an extraordinary role.

I've done it for a year, um, as president.

And we have 1,450 properties in, uh, the UK, um, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.

And I was at 1998, I inherited Hellingham Castle rather unexpectedly.

And I'd always loved old buildings.

...